A hairstory that shares the good, the soft, and the flaws: VERB Density Peptide Shampoo Review

Words By: Ilana Slavit

Finding hair products that work for my thick, curly (2B) has been a notoriously difficult process. I struggle with frizz, but many products weigh down my hair and cause buildup rather than support my curls. I was excited to try VERB’s curl shampoo and conditioner as it targets my problem areas: frizz, lack of moisture, and curl detangling. Being vegan and cruelty-free, as well as paraben-free, gluten-free, and sulfate free, were another fantastic bonus.

I immediately noticed a difference when detangling my hair with VERB’s curl shampoo after the first use; my hair felt much smoother and almost tangle free. With a faint citrus scent, my hair felt clean and refreshed, without the usual buildup I often get from other shampoos. Was this product too good to be true?!

While I’m still a novice to curly haircare, I use a version of the curly hair method: shampoo and detangle with a wide tooth comb, a small dab of conditioner, scrunch my hair with a towel after showering, and then a bit of curl cream. This time, I used the VERB curl conditioner and the VERB curl foaming gel for the final step of my process after hair scrunching, which promises additional frizz control and curl definition.

After two week’s use of the VERB curl shampoo, conditioner, and foaming gel, my hair felt undeniably softer and moisturized. My hair was significantly more manageable from the ease of detangling with the shampoo, but I didn’t notice a change in frizz. Overall I was happy with my results in comparison to other projects which didn’t address any of my problem areas, until I noticed an undesired side effect.

At first I thought I was just getting a few pimples, as I struggle with acne from time to time. However, it had been awhile since I had a breakout and most of the bumps appeared near my hairline and jawline. I realized the culprit had to be the new VERB hair products I was using, as I hadn't changed any aspects of my skincare routine. I put the ingredients in a pore clogging checking tool, and sure enough, VERB’s curl collection contains highly comedogenic ingredients, which means it can cause acne for people with sensitive skin.

VERB promotes their brand as salon quality with “only the good stuff,” and the main ingredients promoted in the curl collection are natural and beneficial for curls: sunflowercurl™ complex, cold-pressed jojoba oil, and castor oil. However, the products contain additional, pore clogging chemicals. As someone with sensitive skin who easily reacts to new products, this may be an individual experience, but I would still caution people with acne-prone skin from using these products.

If it wasn’t for my skin I would have been thrilled to include VERB’s curl shampoo in my haircare routine, as I’ve yet to find a product that matches the level of detangling and curl moisturizing. On to the next products!

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